Target game for rolling missile

ABSTRACT

A target game characterized by the provision of a target member having a base for disposition on a horizontal surface and upwardly curved sides, terminating in a central opening. The game is further provided with divider elements for attachment to the periphery of the base for dividing the periphery into sectors corresponding to the number of participants in the game. The object of the game is for a participant to attempt to roll a ball up the sides of the base so that it will occupy the elevated central opening.

United States Patent Breslow Mar. 7, 1972 [54] TARGET GAME FOR ROLLING 854,581 5/1907 Kohler "273/118 MISSILE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Invent Jeffrey chwag 1,106,426 12/1955 France ..273/176 B [73] Assignee: Marvin Glass 8: Associates Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [22] June 1970 Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind 21 Appl, 4 ,078 AttorneyHofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and McCord [57] ABSTRACT [52] 11.8. C1. ..273/123 R, 273/127 R, 273/178 R,

273/1); 26 A target game characterized by the provision of a target [51] Int. Cl. ..A63t 9/00 member having a base disposition a horizontal Surface 58 Field of Search ..273/11s R, 123 R, 124 R, 125 R, and upwardly curved Sides, terminating in a central W 273/127 R 176 B 178 R, 181 R, 177 R The game is further provided with divider elements for attachment to the periphery of the base for dividing the 56] References Cited periphery into sectors corresponding to the number of participants in the game. The object of the game is for a participant UNITED S A PATENTS to attempt to roll a ball up the sides of the base so that it will occupy the elevated central opening. 1,287,903 12/1918 Dally ..273/l78 R 1,174,411 3/1916 l-lalton ..273/123 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PMENTEDMAR 7 I972 I N VEN TOR c/fFFPiV 0. BRESZOW ATTORN EYS TARGET GAME FOR ROLLING MISSILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices and more particularly to an improved target-type game.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There are numerous targettype games in the art. Typically these include games having a bulls-eye type target and an object which is to be thrown thereat, or games having a face with apertures therein through which a ball or missile is to be thrown. Few such target games utilize the concept of a ball and missile which is to be rolled along a generally horizontal surface in a bowling type fashion. In bowling type games, the ball or missile is usually intended to strike and displace other elements such as pins or the like, but the occupation of a finite area by the rolled ball is not part of the concept of the game.

Games which utilize a thrown or rolled ball are generally popular in the art in that the movements of the games are easy to execute and easily understood by participants. Thus, there is a desire generally present in the art to provide a new form of a game which utilizes the concept of a thrown or rolled ball or missile. In addition, target-type games are similarly very easily understood and improvements of these types of games are also generally well received in the art. Thus, it is the purpose of this invention to meet the continuing desire in the art for improvements in such games embodying the well known and well received principles of target games and rolled or thrown missiles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved target game wherein a ball or similar missile is to be rolled towards the target member.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a target member constructed and arranged for disposal on a generally horizontal supporting surface. The target member has an inclined ramplike surface terminating in a central elevated recess or target portion. Dividers are provided for positioning about the periphery of the target member to divide it into a plurality of sectors corresponding to the number of participants in the game. A ball or similar missile is also provided with the object of the game being to attempt to roll or bowl the ball up the ramplike surface of the target member so that it occupies the central elevated recess or target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the target game of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the target game of this invention showing the divider elements in different possible positions; and

FIG. 3 is a section view taken generally along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The target game of this invention includes a target member 12 which is intended to receive a rolled or thrown missile or ball 14. Preferably, the target member 12 is made of a suitable, durable material, such as a plastic or the like, and the ball 14 may be a hollow plastic ball, a resilient ball, or a Ping Pong ball or the like.

Target member 12 includes a ramplike portion or surface 16, which is generally parabolic in section and annular in plan, being a continuous surface defined by a revolution of a segment of a parabola about an axis. The ramp surface 16 terminates in an outer circular peripheral edge 18, which abuts a supporting surface 20 for holding the target member generally horizontally disposed relative to a horizontal supporting surface which may be a table, floor or ground, or the like.

At its upper end, the ramp 16 terminates in a downwardly and inwardly directed elevated annular lip 22. Annular lip 22 terminates in a depending annular wall or flange 24 which, in turn, supports a cavity or recess bottom 26. The combination of wall flange 24, and bottom 26 define a target area or ball or missile-receiving portion or recess 28 in the target member 12.

A plurality of pairs of apertures 30 are provided about ramp portion 16 adjacent the peripheral edge 18. Preferably, these pairs of apertures 30 are formed in sets which are 9020 apart from each other, as well as another set which is 120 apart from each other. The game further includes divider members 32, each having a top 34, depending sides 36 and 38, and depending end walls 40 and 42. Pairs of pins 44 extend downwardly from the underside of top 34 for engagement in the apertures 30 about the periphery 18 of ramp 16. The purpose of the dividers and the placement of the apertures is to divide the ramp into a plurality of sectors corresponding to the number of participants. Thus, if there are two participants the two dividers would be installed, 180 apart. If there are four participants, the four dividers would be attached, apart. Finally, if there are but three participants, the three dividers would be positioned apart. In each instance, the ramp l6 would be divided into a number of sectors equivalent to the number of participants.

The dividers also serve a score keeping means for each of the participants. In this connection, the top 34, of each divider is provided with aligned apertures 46 for receiving pegs 48. Numerical indicia 50 are positioned along the apertures 46 so that the placement of a peg in one of the apertures can indicate the participants score in the game.

To play the game, each of the players attempts to roll the ball 14 up the ramp surface 16, to the area of recess 28 in an effort to cause the ball 14 to occupy the central recess 28. If the effort is unsuccessful, the ball 14 will roll down the ramp surface 16 in the area of one of the defined sectors. The person into whose sector the ball has rolled gets the next opportunity to successfully attempt to roll the ball up the ramp 16 for occupation into the target area or recess 28.

Thus, it can be seen that the target game of this invention is one which can be easily understood and easily executed by participants. However, the game is unique in that it adds to the concept of target games the requirement that a ball-like member be rolled along a surface for launching up a ramp for intended occupation in an elevated target area.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

I. A target game, comprising:

a target member having an upwardly inclined ramplike surface and a recessed target area at the upper end of the ramplike surface, said ramplike surface having an outer periphery;

a rollable missile means for rolling by players of the game upwardly along said ramplike surface towards said target area;

and a plurality of dividers for dividing the ramplike surface into a plurality of sectors one for use by each player of the game, said dividers extending generally from the periphery of said ramplike surface upwardly along the surface and terminating spaced from said recessed target area at least a distance sufficient to permit the rollable missile to pass between the dividers and the target area over said surface from one sector to another.

3 4 2. The target game of claim 1 wherein said dividers are minating in an upper edge with an annular downwardly and inremovably mounted on said target member to ad ust the size wardly li li extending from said upper edge, and a and number of said sectors to accommodate different numbers of players of the game.

3. The target game of claim 1 wherein said ramplike surface 5 is parabolic in section and circular in plan, the surface tercuplike recess connected to and depending from said inclined lip.

* F I t 

1. A target game, comprising: a target member having an upwardly inclined ramplike surface and a recessed target area at the upper end of the ramplike surface, said ramplike surface having an outer periphery; a rollable missile means for rolling by players of the game upwardly along said ramplike surface towards said target area; and a plurality of dividers for dividing the ramplike surface into a plurality of sectors one for use by each player of the game, said dividers extending generally from the periphery of said ramplike surface upwardly along the surface and terminating spaced from said recessed target area at least a distance sufficient to permit the rollable missile to pass between the dividers and the target area over said surface from one sector to another.
 2. The target game of claim 1 wherein said dividers are removably mounted on said target member to adjust the size and number of said sectors to accommodate different numbers of players of the game.
 3. The target game of claim 1 wherein said ramplike surface is parabolic in section and circular in plan, the surface terminating in an upper edge with an annular downwardly and inwardly inclined lip extending from said upper edge, and a cuplike recess connected to and depending from said inclined lip. 